Retard device for sprinkler systems



March 22, 1932. A. GRIMES RETARD DEVICE FOR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Filed Feb.5, 195o Patented Mar. 22, 1932 "UNITED STATES PATENT, oFFlcE LESTER A.-GRIMS, OF'MONTCLAIR, N 'EW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GRIMES SPRINKLER COMPANY,INC., F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A Cf)RIE0RLIECVT 0F NEW JERSEY kRE'JJAIR'DyDEVICE F033, SPRINKLEB SYSTEMS Application filed February 5, 1930. erialNo. 425,936.v

The present invention relates to'an improved flow retarding device foruse in automatic sprinkler systems or the like.

More specifically the invention comprises 5,l a compact device of simpleconstruction and of relatively small dimensions adapted positively toprevent `the flow of water to the alarm until after a desired intervalof time and thereafter to permit a direct and relative- 10 ly large flowof water thereto, whereby water hammer or the likeis ineffective toactuate the alarm. For an understanding of the invention retverence maybe had to .the accompanying 15- jdrawing in which is 'illustrated partlyin section a retarding device embodying the invention.

i Referring to the drawing, a cylindrical casting 1 isprovided with ahorizontal partition 2 vnear the lower part thereof which divides theinterior of the casting into an inlet chamber 3 below the partition andan accumulation chamber t above the partition. Chamber 3 isclosed on itslower side by a diaphragm 5, and chamber 4 on its upper side is closedby'r a diaphragm 6. A lower casting 7 provided witha threaded opening 8for connection toa drain pipe is fastened to the casting l by means ofbolts 9, which bolts pass 30 through holes in diaphragm 5 and insuitable gaskets between the diaphragm and casing sections. An uppercasting 10 for housing thecontacts lor an electrical alarm device issimilarly bolted to the casting 1; so as to hold diaphragm therebetween.Casing section is closed bya top section 11 screw threadedly mountedthereon. Aright angle partition12 connected between partition 2 and Y awall of ,casing 11forms an outlet chamber 13 about4 a threaded openingyle'into which the pipeleadingto .the water alarm is adapt--` ed to beconnected. QA simi-lar threaded opening-15 is provided in the wallofcasing 1 leading into chamber 3or connection of the pipe leadingfromthe usual alarm valve. Casing Y section 7 above the drain connection 8encloses a chamber 16 `opening laterally into an annularl groove 17withinV which is a compression spring y13 normally tending to hold dia-50 phragm 5 away from the closed upper end of chamber 16. Diaphragm 5 isprovided with i a central aperture 19 for the drainage of water from thedevice when the diaphragm is raised, which aperture is closed when thepressure in chamber 3 is suthcient to depress the diaphragm against theclosed top of chamber 16 in opposition to the tension of spring 18.

Threaded into partition 2 is a shortfmember 2O provided with a passage21 therethrough for the admission of water into the accumulation chamber4. The passage 21 is v of relatively small bore and is protected fromclogging as with dirt bya screen 22 soldered to the lower side of a nutintegral with member 20. Drainage from chamber t independent of thepassage 21 is permitted through a short pipe 23 threaded into partition2. A nut .24 integral with pipe 23 vhas fastened thereto a framework 25of wires enclosing the lower opening of the pipe 23. A. disk 26 ofsufficient area to cover the open end of the pipe 23, carried within theramework 25, normally permits drainage of chamber 4 through pipe 23, butis raised against the end of theV pipe to cut off the passage of watertherethrough upon an increase of pressure in chamber?,y above that inchamber 4.

Slidably mounted in partition 12is a rod 27 linked at its upper end to alever 28 pivoted upon an upright 29 mounted on partition 2. Thelower'end of rod 27 has pinned thereto a tube 30 from which is suspendeda member 31 carrying a disk valve 32 for a port 33 between chambers 3and 13. Acut out portion of member 31 through which passes a pin 34fastened in the walls of tube 3() permits a slight movement ofdisk 32relative to rod 27 whereby the disk is raised to close-port 33'when rod27 is in raised position yopening or' port 33 is effected when rod 27lis in its lower-most position, at which time relative upward movementof disk 32 isineiiective to close port 33.

The other end of lever 28 is linked to .a

eny

@CQ crease iii-pressure inthe inletfchainbendue n 'forgeirample to waterhammer, that is not of f Y' sulicientfdurationto causethe fillings of,the

member rigidly mounted, asby means of screw 36, ondiaphragm 6. Diaphragm6 is normally depressed by an insulating pis-y 1 ton 37 Vcarried betweenguides in casingsection l0 and forced downwardly against the u perj sideof thev diaphragm by a spring 38. pon increase in pressure *inl chamber4,- due Y to the iilling'thereof with water through port Y 16 21,diaphragm 6 is raised against the tension of spring'38V to tip'lever 28rand thereby to de` press`rodf27'to` open port 33.` vrlhe upwardmovement of insulating iston 37, causedby upward pressure uponViaphragin 6, 'serves to energize an electric" alarm :device (not shown)by closure of electric contacts 39 and I suitably mounted upon castingsection 10 Vand VVconnected. by means' of wires'fll land 42 withthecircuit ofthe electric alarm. A

. From the above description, it will bez ap- Vparentthat an increaseinpressure in chamer.3, occasioned by a steady inflow of; water Y `Vthrough the inlet 1,5,operates to close allout- I lets from this chamberywith theexception .of thesmallport 2l leading into the waccumulationchamber 4. VAs; the flow; continues, chamber ,4 will'gradually befilledV suiciently ktograise diaphragm 6 and thereby y*to open' jwideport 33 to permit water to flow directly -fromchamber'?) to thewateralarm and to close ,contacts ,39- and AlOto sound the electricalarm. ;Uponcessation ofv water inflow, the

` r,consequent decrease in pressure in chamber i3 permits diskk 26 tofall against wires25r openi'ngthe drain passagey yfor chamber 4.'

f ,andthereby to .drain the device throughport The decrease inpressurein'chambery 3 likewise permits spring 18 to lift diaphragm 5.19,7`chambers`17 and16lr and drain outlet 8.

`As fthe :accumulation vvchamber `becomes rdrained and they pressuretherein diminishes,

. spring38 moves diaphragm 6 downwardto y j lift vrod g27gand toropenthe'ci'rcuitof the Y electricjalarm. Discf32 yalso Vdrops allowingdrainage, ofthewater motory line.

f .f .-Theretarding device above described, :due 'tothe provision oftherestricted opening into the? accumulation chamber combined withthen-relatively large'drainage area therefrom, and'jd'ue to; theprovision of the yrelatively large outlet fory the water to the' alarmde! ',Vleading'directly from theinlet chamber, Y can be made ofkrelatively smaller4 dimen- "sionsthan candevices heretofore in use,with Vvcons equent saving in cost of materials 'and'in space; occupied.Furthermore, the simple t construction 'and operation of the variousvalves-,aresuch thatl the device is positiveinvk ractionyandfsubstantially. fool-proof. An Vin-y .accumulation chamber, will Vbeineffectivev to causev'actuation of yeithertlie electric or thewateralarm. Accumulation ofwater in any systems comprising a casing, aVpartition rthereindividing thespace within Ysaid cas-V ing into arelatively Vsmall vinlet Vchamber and systems comprising acentralcylindrical casf ing section and upperv and lowerjcasmg sec- #05 Thefollowing is claimed:

kvision of a rcomplete drainage system.V Y

1. A retard device for automatic sprinkler a. relatively largeaccumulation chamber,

saidpartition being provided witha-` erma-V nently open 'passage'ytherethrough o small bore ,andwith a draina e'passage theref through ofrelatively large ore means adapted to close said drainage passage onlywhen the pressure iny the inlet rchamber exceeds that rin Vthek,accumulation chamber, pressure responsive means adapted to form onewall 't of theaccumulation chamber, means includf ing anoutletpassagezfrom said'inletl chama 7 inlet chamber to actuate a wateralarm ofthe 85' ber for-permitting water to flow` from said partvof rthedevice is prevented by the proj system, a valve forcontrolling saidoutlety i' passage and means for controlling said valve by-'saidpressure responsive means.y

' A` retarddevice accordlng to claim-1includin meanswhereby saidvalvepartially opens y gravityjwhen wateris notbeing supplied to theinlet'chamber. f

. 3. A'retard device according to claimillin@ l cluding pressureresponsive means Y forming one wall ofsaid inlet chamber and providemeans is in one position, and a Vsurface cart ried by said casingadapted lto close salda r- .with an `aperture therethrough for IdrainingY Vsaid yinlet chamber when said responsive' ture to prevent drainagetherethrough w enloo said pressure responsivemeans is in anotherposition. Y

4.k A retard device for automatic sprinklerV tions adapted tobe'securedto the central section, a diaphragm between the upper andcentral casing sections spri-ngfpressed toward saidk centrall section, apartition within said "nu central section dividing the space thereininto inlet and accumulation chambers" and provided with two passagestherethrough,

a secondpartition in said central section forming'an outlet chamberthereinA communiupper casing sections', a rdiaphragm 'between i thelower and central casing sectiolisspring- Apressed toward the centralcasting and having 51.25

a drainage ypassage therethrough` adaptedto be ,4 closed. only when the'inlet chamber is under pressure, andL means for,y closing one. of ysaid.passages in said first mentioned pariger exceeds that of theaccumulation charn- 5. A retard device comprising a central cylindricalcasing section and upper and lower casing sections adapted to be securedto the central section, diaphragms between adjacent casing sectionsbiased toward said central section, a partition within said centralsection dividing thev space therein into inlet and accumulation chambersand provided with two passages therethrough, a second partition in saidcentral section forming an outlet chamber therein communicating withsaid inlet chamber, means for connecting a water supply pipe to saidinlet chamber and a water outlet pipe to said outletchamber, a valvecontrolling the communication between said inlet and outletchambers'adapted to be operated by movement of the diaphragm between thecentral and upper casing sections7 and means for closing one of saidpassagesin said first mentioned parti- Y tion under certain pressureconditions in said inlet chamber.

6. A retard device according to claim 5 including electrical contactsVcarried by said upper casing section a-nd means operable by thediaphragm between the central and upper casing sections Jfor closingsaid contacts when said diaphragm operates to establish communicationbetween said inlet and outlet chambers.

7.' In a retard device according to claim 5 means operable by gravityunder certain pressure conditions in said inlet chamber for establishingcommu-nication between said inlet and outlet chambers independently ofthe diaphragm between the upper and central casing sections.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LESTER A. GRIMES.

